‘The Diamond’ Handled the Pressure, but Can He Capture UFC Gold?

Dustin Poirier (left) defeated Benoit Saint-Denis (right) via KO at UFC 299. (via Bleacher Report)

Former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion, Dustin Poirier defeated Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299, showing that the 35-year-old has more than enough left in the tank to compete with the very best in the lightweight division.

His opponent, Benoit Saint-Denis was regarded as one of the most dangerous up and coming prospects in the division, as he defeated his previous five opponents via stoppage. Going into the fight, many believed that Poirier would struggle with the grappling of Saint-Denis, as well as his size advantage over Poirier. Although Poirier did have a perceivable advantage while striking, it was doubtful that he would be able to make it the difference maker against Saint-Denis, who had previously only lost once in his career.

Poirier did struggle in grappling exchanges in the first round as many predicted, but this was mainly the result of Poirier attempting several guillotine chokes which all ended up failing ‘The Diamond”. Despite the fact that his head coach, Mike Brown, told him to stop attempting the submission, he went out and attempted another at the beginning of the round. This did not play to his detriment, as his boxing finally started to open up shortly after. Poirier stunned Saint-Denis with a left hook, then continued to pressure the Frenchman until an opening eventually created itself. He then found an opening and connected with one of the most picture perfect right hooks in recent memory, knocking Saint-Denis out in devastating fashion.

This thrusted Poirier right back into the lightweight title picture, but since he has challenged for two undisputed titles in his career, some doubt that the 35-year-old still has enough left in the tank to defeat the scariest lightweight in the world, Lightweight Champion, Islam Makhachev.

Poirier’s two previous title defenses have been against fighters that were on tremendous win streaks. The first was against the consensus greatest lightweight of all time, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was en route to completing his undefeated career when he fought Poirier. Khabib defeated Poirier via rear naked choke, and showed the difference in grappling acumen between the two.

The next was against the greatest submission artist in UFC history, Charles Oliveira. Poirier did do well in that fight on the feet, dropping Oliveira. Although there was some controversy as Poirier accused Oliveira of grabbing his gloves while on the ground he was thoroughly controlled on the ground. He was then choked out in the third round by the same submission, the rear naked choke, and lost his second attempt at capturing the lightweight title. Many believe that this was his best chance of capturing a UFC title, and he was unable to avoid the better grappler on the ground yet again.

Islam Makhachev is just as good, if not better than Oliveira and Nurmagomedov on the ground, and better on the feet as well. This looks to be Poirier’s toughest test to date, but when it comes to the very best strikers in the UFC, Poirier is without a doubt in the conversation. Although he very well could catch Makhachev the same way he caught Saint-Denis, it seems unlikely.

In addition, no fighter below middleweight (185 lbs.) has ever won UFC gold past the age of 35. Since Poirier is currently 35, many are doubting his ability to beat the incumbent champion The fight has yet to be scheduled, but Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has expressed interest in the matchup due to the gravity of his win against Saint-Denis.